We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Your credit report contains a nearly complete record of your credit history. Whether you're approved for a new loan, credit card, or line of credit often depends on your credit report, so you want to be sure the information in your credit report is accurate. It’s recommended that you check your credit report at least once a year to be sure there are no errors. The more often you can check it, the better. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to check your credit report for free. The best free credit reports don’t ask for any credit card information for sign-up and can easily be accessed online. Read on to see the ones we recommend using. Best Free Credit Reports Best Free Credit Reports Final Verdict Compare Services FAQs Methodology Why We Chose It AnnualCreditReport.com makes it simple to review your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports all in one place. Pros & Cons Pros Reports from three major bureaus available No account requirement Cons Accessible only once a year No credit score access Overview In 2003, a Federal law passed granting every consumer the right to a free report from all credit reporting agencies each year. AnnualCreditReport.com is the centralized site that allows every consumer to access their free credit report granted by Federal law. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau confirms that AnnualCreditReport.com is the official website that allows you to access each of your credit reports from all three of the major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—at no cost. You can obtain one free credit report every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com, without signing up, creating an account, or entering your credit card information. Alternatively, you can call 1-877-322-8228 to order your legally free credit report. Credit reports are available as a PDF download or you can request to have your credit reports mailed to you. The downside is that you receive your full credit report, which hasn’t been formatted for user-friendliness. Depending on the length of your credit history and the number of accounts you’ve had, your credit reports can be dozens of pages each. You won’t receive a credit score with your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. Why We Chose It If you're interested in viewing your credit performance over time, CreditKarma may fit the bill. It lets you access your Equifax and TransUnion reports quickly and easily. Pros & Cons Pros Accessible anytime Updated to reflect changes in your credit Cons Offers reports from only two credit bureaus Account required Overview Credit Karma has been around since 2007 and has partnered with two of the major credit bureaus—Equifax and TransUnion—to offer your free credit report. Because you can access two of your major credit reports, it’s the next best option to AnnualCreditReport.com. While you will have to create an account to use Credit Karma, you don’t have to enter your credit card information or remember to cancel any free trial subscription. You can access your credit reports at any time by logging into your account either directly through your web browser or through their mobile app. Your credit report information is updated to reflect changes in your credit history and activity, giving you continued access to changes in your credit information. Although, changes may require some days to be reflected in what is shown by Credit Karma. You’ll have access to your credit report information along with an explanation of the factors that are currently contributing to your credit score. Credit Karma also uses your free credit report information to show credit card and loan offers that you may qualify for based on your credit standing. You don’t have to take advantage of these offers if you’re not on the market for a new credit card or loan product. Why We Chose It Credit Sesame provides access to your TransUnion report and provides some valuable insight into factors impacting your credit. Pros & Cons Pros Monthly updates of your credit report Credit information is accessible anytime Cons Access to TransUnion only Sign-up required Overview Credit Sesame provides your TransUnion credit report information along with the factors affecting your credit the most. Like Credit Karma, you sign up by creating an account, but you won’t have to enter your credit card information. Once you’ve created an account, your membership gives you access to a monthly update of your credit information, but you can access your account at any time. In addition to your TransUnion credit report information, you’ll also have access to your TransUnion credit score online or through the Credit Sesame mobile app. Reviewing your credit report often gives you an idea of where your credit stands and whether you need to improve your score. Credit Sesame analyzes your credit information to make recommendations for credit cards, loans, and other financial products, but you don’t have to apply if you’re not in the market for a new loan. Why We Chose It If you aren't interested in the hassle of a lengthy and complex sign-up process, NerdWallet will likely offer what you're looking for. Pros & Cons Pros Quick sign-up process Credit report information is accessible at any time Cons Access to TransUnion only Account required Overview Sign up with NerdWallet and get access to your free TransUnion credit report. With Nerdwallet, your credit report details are refreshed weekly, but you can log on at any time to check your credit report information. In addition to your free credit report, you’ll also be able to view your VantageScore 3.0 based on your TransUnion credit report information. Your credit score is also updated on a weekly basis. Registering is fairly simple. You can use your existing Google account and you only have to enter your birth date, address, and the last four digits of your social security to create your account. Alternatively, you can use the Nerdwallet mobile app to quickly and easily monitor your credit report and other aspects of your finances when you’re on the go. Why We Chose It Credit Wise offers a handy credit simulator that can help you see how to improve your credit score over time. Pros & Cons Pros Timely notifications about credit report changes Credit score simulator available Cons Access to TransUnion only Sign-up required Overview You can check your TransUnion credit report and credit score through CreditWise, a credit report and credit score tool from Capital One. Credit Wise is available for free, even for those who aren’t Capital One customers. Signing up is simple and easy. You won’t have to enter any credit card information, there’s no trial subscription to cancel, and your credit information is updated weekly. You can access Credit Wise online or use the mobile app to keep up with your credit score. CreditWise keeps you up to date with changes to your credit report and you'll even receive email or push notifications about important credit events, which is great if you’re on the go and tend to forget to check your credit regularly. CreditWise includes a credit score simulator you can use to help determine how certain actions will affect your credit score so you can make informed financial decisions. For example, if you’re planning to open up a new credit card account, you can use the simulator to estimate how it will impact your credit score. Why We Chose It Unlike some other services which offer weekly or monthly updates of your credit report, WalletHub offers daily updates. Pros & Cons Pros Suspicious activity is identified and flagged quickly Free credit score available Cons Access to TransUnion only Account required Overview Your credit report information can change frequently as your creditors send in updates to the credit bureaus. Weekly or monthly updates can keep you a bit out of touch with your credit report details. WalletHub is the only site that provides free daily updates to your full credit report information along with a summary of important changes to your credit information. You’ll have the most updated information from your TransUnion credit report, allowing you to act quickly to changes or suspicious activity on your credit report. WalletHub also provides personalized credit advice based specifically on your credit information. In addition to your free credit report, you’ll also have access to your free credit score (WalletHub uses Vantage Score 3.0), which allows you to quickly see where your credit stands and how potential lenders might view your credit risk. There’s no credit card necessary to sign up and you won’t damage your credit by using the service, even if you check your credit report every day. AnnualCreditReport.com distinguishes itself from the other services on our list by providing access to credit reports from all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It also provides full, detailed credit reports, as opposed to the online summaries provided by most of the services on our list. We believe it's the best choice if you want to be thorough. However, if you just want a quick means of monitoring your credit, some of the other services on our list might be more user-friendly.. Your credit report is a collection of account history from companies you’ve created a credit account with or companies your creditors have designated to collect on their behalf. The information in your credit report helps new creditors and lenders decide whether to do business with you and the appropriate cost to charge you. Mistakes happen. In fact, a study finds that 34% of consumers have at least one error on their credit report. These errors can affect your ability to get approved or cause you to pay higher rates when you are approved. The only way to verify that your credit report contains the right information is to review the information on an ongoing basis. Purchasing your credit reports can get expensive, especially if you need to review your credit report multiple times a year. Accessing a free credit report allows you to stay on top of your credit without the hefty price tag. Plus, you can use more than one free credit report service at a time for a comprehensive look at your credit across all three major credit bureaus. Certain sites only provide access to your credit reports from one or two of the major credit bureaus. If you'd like to access your reports from the three major credit bureaus, you can do so for free once a year through AnnualCreditReport.com. We evaluated and selected the best free credit reports based on a few factors, including the number of credit reports you can access, the frequency of updates, the ease of understanding the information, the ease of signing up for a new account, and whether a free credit score or analysis was also included. We excluded any companies that required credit card information to sign up or that only offered a free credit report on a trial basis. Article Sources Federal Trade Commission. "Report to Congress Under Section 318 and 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003." Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "How Do I Get a Copy of my Credit Reports?" Consumer Reports. “Consumer Reports Investigation Finds More Than One-Third of Consumers Found Errors in Their Credit Reports.”Best Free Credit Reports of 2023
Best Overall : AnnualCreditReport.com
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Best for Credit Monitoring : Credit Karma
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Best for Single Bureau Access : Credit Sesame
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Easiest Sign-Up : NerdWallet
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Best for Improving Credit : CreditWise
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Best for Daily Updates : WalletHub
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Final Verdict
Compare the Best Free Credit Reports
Company Account Required Reports Available Accessibility AnnualCreditReport.com
Best OverallNo Equifax, Experian, TransUnion Once per year Credit Karma
Best for Credit MonitoringYes Equifax, TransUnion At any time Credit Sesame
Best for Single Bureau AccessYes TransUnion At any time NerdWallet
Easiest Sign-UpYes TransUnion At any time CreditWise
Best for Improving CreditYes TransUnion At any time WalletHub
Best for Daily UpdatesYes TransUnion At any time Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Credit Report?
Why Should You Check Your Credit Report?
Are Free Credit Reports Worth it?
What Is the Best Site to Get All Three Credit Reports?
Methodology
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FAQs
What is the most accurate free credit score site? ›
Generally, Credit Karma is the overall best site in terms of getting free credit scores and free credit reports.
What is the best source of a free credit report? ›You have the right to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also be able to view free reports more frequently online.
Is AnnualCreditReport.com a legitimate website? ›AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to get your free annual credit reports. This right is guaranteed by Federal law. You can verify this is the official site by visiting the CFPB's website. Don't be fooled by look-alike sites.
What is the highest credit score possible 2023? ›The max credit score possible from both FICO® and VantageScore® credit models is 850. Having a high credit score can earn you many benefits, including lower interest rates on loans, waived security deposits and better insurance rates.
Which of the 3 credit scores is most accurate? ›Simply put, there is no “more accurate” score when it comes down to receiving your score from the major credit bureaus.
What is the most trusted credit score check? ›The primary credit scoring models are FICO® and VantageScore®, and both are equally accurate. Although both are accurate, most lenders are looking at your FICO score when you apply for a loan.
Where to check credit score without hurting it? ›Checking your free credit scores on Credit Karma doesn't hurt your credit. These credit score checks are known as soft inquiries, which don't affect your credit at all. Hard inquiries (also known as “hard pulls”) generally happen when a lender checks your credit while reviewing your application for a financial product.
How can I get my free FICO score? ›One of the best ways to access your FICO® credit score for free is through Discover Credit Scorecard. This program is free whether you are a Discover customer or not. To get started, you'll be asked for some personal information, including your Social Security number.
Has AnnualCreditReport.com ever been hacked? ›Can AnnualCreditReport.com Be Hacked? While AnnualCreditReport.com takes steps to keep its site secure, hypothetically, your credit report could be accessed if an impersonator had enough of your personal information. That's what happened in an incident in 2013.
Is it safe to get a free credit report online? ›The AnnualCreditReport.com website is secured through encryption. This means you can safely and securely get a free report from each of the credit bureaus through this website, which you can opt to save on your computer, print at home, or receive in the regular mail.
How much does it cost to get your credit score from AnnualCreditReport com? ›
Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request free copies of your credit reports. Other sites may charge you or be fraudulent sites set up to steal your personal information. By law, everyone is entitled to one free credit report every twelve months from each of the three credit reporting agencies.
Who has a 900 credit score? ›While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
How many Americans have over a 700 credit score? ›71.3% of Americans have a FICO Score of 670 (good) or better. 21.2% have an exceptional FICO credit score of 800 or above. FICO credit scores generally increase with age, with older generations having higher averages.
Which is more accurate FICO or Credit Karma? ›Although VantageScore's system is accurate, it's not the industry standard. Credit Karma works fine for the average consumer, but the companies that will approve or deny your application are more likely to look at your FICO score.
What is the best free app to check your credit score? ›Credit Karma: Best free credit score app
It also make recommendations about credit cards, loans, and more. It tells you which ones you'll likely be approved for and how different financial decisions will affect your credit profile.
By law, you can get a free credit report each year from the three credit reporting agencies (CRAs). These agencies include Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.